Fort Smith

Fort Smith revenue up in the August tax report

Sales tax revenue for Fort Smith in the city’s August report was up more than 2% and the city’s portion of the countywide tax was up more than 17% –…

Bring It On: The Musical

Bitingly relevant and sprinkled with sass, Bring It On: The Musical, inspired by the Bring It On film, takes you on a high-flying journey through friendship, forgiveness and determination. Bring…

‘Leaf chasers’ may benefit from wetter, cooler weather

This is the time of year that professional foliage spotters turn their eyes to the tree tops and begin calculating the colorful fall forecast for the Arkansas region. Arkansas…

UA receives $1.4 million for maritime center

The University of Arkansas will receive $1.4 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to create a Maritime Transportation Research and Education Center (MarTREC). The center will expand the U…

Report: New energy sources boost disposable income

A report from Englewood, Colo.-based IHS suggests that the unconventional oil and natural gas production in the U.S. boosted disposable income by $1,200 per household in 2012, with the income…

Jail funding options tough for Crawford County officials

In order to fund the construction of a new county jail, Crawford County residents are nearly certain to be voting on a sales tax proposal that could push the amount…

Immaculate Conception named a Blue Ribbon school

It was May 31 when Sharon Blentlinger first learned that Immaculate Conception Catholic School in Fort Smith would be named 2013 National Blue Ribbon School. That knowledge also came with…

Halloween spending expected to top $6.9 billion

Cooler fall weather may bring cooler sales this Halloween, as fewer Americans plan to celebrate the fall holiday, according a recent survey sponsored by the National Retail Federation. That said,…

Apple iPhone 5 sales top 9 million

Sales of iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c have exceeded expectations breaking a record of nine million new devices sold since the products were launched four days ago. “The demand for…

Campus reflections

On the well-manicured University of Arkansas at Fort Smith campus it was early evening, with the dusk again managing the shift change between day and night. This time of soft…

State liquor law challenged in federal court

The widely debated state liquor law that restricts liquor store ownership and multiple franchising interests will be heard in federal court next month. Benton County resident Robert McCurry filed suit…

Two big building projects permitted in Fort Smith

In the matter of a week, the city of Fort Smith has issued building permits with higher values than it did for the entire month of September 2012. The two…

Lou Holtz shares laughs, memories about the Razorbacks

Retired legendary football coach and now ESPN analyst Lou Holtz held hundreds in the palm of his hand Monday (Sept. 23) as he addressed the NWA Touchdown Club luncheon hosted…

Teacher insurance sign-up delayed one month

Gov. Mike Beebe on Monday (Sept. 23) gave public school employees at least a one-month reprieve from insurance premiums that are set to rise at or above 50% for many…

New Arkansas Insurance rate costs unveiled (Updated)

The Arkansas Insurance Department released the costs of rate plans to be offered in the forthcoming state insurance exchange. Four companies are offering bronze, silver and gold plans for health…

August travel traffic up in Fort Smith, down at XNA

Enplanements at the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) were down in August but remain higher for the year, while the opposite was true for the Fort Smith Regional Airport. The…

Fall Festival October 19

Tusk to Tail: The 0-4 trip to Rutgers via Gettysburg, Philly, Chicago and New York

Travel delays, dramatic losses, and confrontations with opposing fans. We would do it all again in a heartbeat. In a four-day weekend stretching from Gettysburg, Pa., to Piscataway, N.J., with…

State officials discuss new insurance pricing, process

Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Jay Bradford and State Sen. Jonathan Dismang, R-Beebe, discussed expectations and concerns of the forthcoming insurance exchange that could provide coverage to as many as a half-million…

Alice and the Rockwells

It’s not often one gets to give a suggestion to a member of the wealthy billionaire Walton Clan of Northwest Arkansas. But here goes. “Dear Ms. Alice: “Please consider buying…

Oklahoma court ruling threatens poultry industry in Arkansas

GDP up 4.3% in the third quarter, consumer confidence declines

St. Bernards to expand Maternal Life360 HOME program into Greene County

Then and Now: Cooperative business model a good fit for Mitchell Johnson